A “harbor of the future” is on its way to Brooklyn, as a city economic group announced on Wednesday a slew of repairs and upgrades for the historic waterfront Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) in Red Hook.
As part of its effort to build a modern maritime port, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), which oversees the BMT, has a lot in store for updating operations at the iconic and economically important port.
It starts with some demolition work.
Through three major maritime infrastructure-related contracts, the NYCEDC made an $18 million investment to demolish four out-of-service cranes, buy a modern electric crane and make repairs to the Red Hook Container Terminal Pier.
NYCEDC officials, who gained control of the terminal in May 2024 from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, explained that it has experienced years of deterioration and divestment.
Andrew Kimball, president and CEO of NYCEDC, said the agency is committed to redeveloping the terminal and container port.
“After decades of decay and disinvestment at the Brooklyn Marine Terminal, these contracts are a small but meaningful step toward delivering a modern, all-electric, maritime port that activates our Blue Highway network and advances New York City’s harbor of the future,” Kimball said.
He added that NYCEDC will soon create a vision plan for the terminal alongside the BMT Task Force, which is a team of local politicians — including U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman, state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and City Council Member Alexa Avias — who lead engagement efforts for the terminal.
“NYCEDC is proud to collaborate with our city and state partners and work alongside the BMT Task Force to hopefully execute in the coming weeks a historic vision plan that will benefit generations of New Yorkers, and the entire region, to come,” Kimball said.
Stemming from an initial $80 million city investment made last year, the breakdown of the $18 million investment includes $15 million for a new electric crane, $2 million for fender repairs to Pier 10, and $1 million for the demolition and removal of four out-of-service cranes.
Goldman said the city is on the cusp of “revitalizing and reimagining” the local port.
“This initial investment of $18 million out of a pledged $80 million in industrial infrastructure is a down payment on the future redevelopment of a working waterfront and the first step to righting the wrongs of the past,” the Congress member said.
Demolition and upgrades to begin this spring
The demolition and removal of the four out-of-service cranes, which is a hefty job, will take place from April to August 2025 by Atlantic Coast Dismantling (ACD). Meanwhile, the two cranes on Pier 9A are diesel operated and over 50 years old, NYCEDC officials said. They are also inaccessible due to the unstable condition of Pier 9A. The two cranes on Pier 10 that will be removed were damaged during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
NYCEDC said there will be space for a new electric crane, and ACD will recycle the steel from the four demolished cranes.
The agency contracted with German-based manufacturer Liebherr to build and deliver the new all-electric ship-to-shore crane to serve the Red Hook Container Terminal at Pier 10. The entire process of construction, delivery, and on-site assembly will take approximately two years, making the new crane operational in Spring 2027.
In addition, Pier 10 is getting many repairs and replacements to ensure its longevity and protect its physical integrity from berthing ships and barges. The repair process is expected to go from May to September 2025.
Mike Stamatis, Red Hook Container Terminal president, said BMT made fast strides in recent months to get updated.
“The execution of these contracts marks a significant milestone in our journey towards creating a modern, all-electric maritime port,” he said. “This initiative not only revitalizes the Brooklyn Marine Terminal but also strengthens our commitment to sustainable and efficient port operations. We are excited to see the positive impact these upgrades will have on our port and the broader region.”
Frank Agosta, president of ILA Local 1814, said the new contracts mark a “pivotal moment” for BMT and the Red Hook Container Terminal.
“This investment not only modernizes our port infrastructure but also ensures that we are equipped to handle the demands of the future,” he said. “We look forward to the positive impact these upgrades will have on our workforce.”
After a vision plan is formalized, NYCEDC officials said the city and state will work with the BMT Task Force and other stakeholders to advance the project through a state process and set of requirements that include a neighborhood condition study and an environmental review.
